Netherlands leads OSCE push to investigate torture of Ukrainian POWs
Netherlands demand accountability for Russian torture of prisoners (Getty Images)
More than 40 member states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), led by the Netherlands, have initiated the launch of a mechanism to investigate the torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp announced.
"The Netherlands and 40 other OSCE countries request an independent investigation into the torture and ill-treatment by Russia of Ukrainian prisoners of war," said the minister.
Veldkamp added that the mechanism planned to be activated is called the Moscow Mechanism. It can be launched by at least 10 participating countries, and currently, there are more than 40 involved.
"By invoking this so-called Moscow Mechanism, the Netherlands and partnering countries contribute to truth-finding and accountability for Russian war crimes in Ukraine," he noted.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, no less than 90 percent of Ukrainian prisoners of war released from Russian captivity were subjected to torture. This highlights the scale of abuse in Russian detention facilities and camps.
In addition, Russian forces have executed Ukrainian POWs. On July 10, 2025, Ukraine's military intelligence intercepted an order from a commander of Russia's 155th Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet instructing the torture of Ukrainian POWs. On July 19, another intercepted order from a commander in the same brigade called for the execution of prisoners.
Furthermore, Russian commanders have been instructing their soldiers to finish off wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
